TY - JOUR
T1 - The conflict between accountability and confidentiality in Medicare's access to psychiatrists' notes
AU - Jewell, Paul
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - Objective: The aims of this paper were to identify a conflict between psychiatrists' obligations regarding patient confidentiality and Medicare's auditing procedures, and to examine potential resolutions to the conflict. Conclusion: While it is reasonable for Medicare, as a taxpayer-funded instrumentality, to require documentary evidence to substantiate and justify claims, such a requirement constitutes a significant breach of patient confidentiality. Obtaining patient consent appears to be the only ethical resolution of the issue.
AB - Objective: The aims of this paper were to identify a conflict between psychiatrists' obligations regarding patient confidentiality and Medicare's auditing procedures, and to examine potential resolutions to the conflict. Conclusion: While it is reasonable for Medicare, as a taxpayer-funded instrumentality, to require documentary evidence to substantiate and justify claims, such a requirement constitutes a significant breach of patient confidentiality. Obtaining patient consent appears to be the only ethical resolution of the issue.
KW - Confidentiality
KW - Ethics
KW - Medicare, psychiatry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=81155123763&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3109/10398562.2011.610460
DO - 10.3109/10398562.2011.610460
M3 - Article
VL - 19
SP - 489
EP - 492
JO - Australasian Psychiatry
JF - Australasian Psychiatry
SN - 1039-8562
IS - 6
ER -